Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
Olivia McKoy prepares to throw the javelin on her way to breaking the national record at the National Stadium in June last year. McKoy, who at the time threw 60.50 to beat her previous record of 59.87m, threw 58.27 metres yesterday on her last attempt to claim the bronze, Jamaica's first at this staging of the XVIII Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
MELBOURNE, Australia:
JAVELIN THROWER Olivia McKoy won Jamaica's first medal at the XVIII Common-wealth Games yesterday when she placed third in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The self-coached McKoy earned the bronze on her very last throw after falling from third to fifth with two rounds to go.
McKoy fell out of medal position following a poor 55.53m in round four and a foul on her fifth throw.
Australian Kimberley Mickle, cheered on by the massive 70,000 crowd in the MCG on a bright and sunny day, had moved into third with a 58.18 metres throw in the fourth round.
"I told myself after dropping to fifth that I had to do something on my final throw because I wanted a medal today," McKoy said after her event. "With the crowd cheering the Australian on, that motivated me to go out and earn the bronze medal.
"I am really proud of my achievement here. To come to the Commonwealth Games and to walk away with a bronze medal in the first field event final makes me very happy," said the Above Rocks-based McKoy.
Her bronze medal throw was 58.27m.
Sunette Violjoen, a little-known South African competitor, won the gold with a season-best 60.72m on her second attempt. Pre-event favourite, Laverne Eve of the Bahamas got silver with 60.54m.
OUTCLASSED
Marathon runners Areita Marton and Andrew Gutzmore, both competing in their first Games, were outclassed in the event which was run through the streets of Melbourne on a cool Sunday morning but showed some determination by completing the event.
Martin ran a lonely race for almost the entire course and was given a rousing applause when she became the 19th and last of the women's runners to finish the event.
She crosssed the line at the MCG in 3:34.36, well after 38-year-old winner, Kerry McCann of Australia, had cried tears of joy, hugged members of her family and had taken a victory lap around the vast stadium with her young son.
Gutzmore also completed the men's marathon to finish 13th of the 14 who completed the race.
Tanzania's Nyoni Ramadhani won gold in a fast 2:11.29.
ASAFA'S 10.29 TROT
World 100m record holder Asafa Powell looks to have the gold medal in the bag after cruising into the semi-finals with a 10.29-second trot.
Powell, like his MVP teammate Michael Frater before him, moved fast through the mixed zone following the instructions of his coach to do his talking on the track until the event is completed today.
The world record holder had earlier won his first round heat in 10.53.
Also making the semi-finals were Frater, who did 10.25 to win his second round heat one, and Ainsley Waugh, who was fourth in heat two behind Ghana's Aziz but went through as one of the fastest losers.
The fastest second-round qualifier was Nigeria's Emedolu Uchenna who won the fourth heat in 10.15. The semi-finals and final will be run today.
All three Jamaicans also made the semi-finals of the women's 100m.
Sheri-Ann Brooks showed she was in top form by running close to her personal best 11.24 with a season-best 11.30 to win heat four.
She was followed into the three-heat semi-finals by Peta Gaye Dowdie (11.43) for second in heat five and Danielle Browning who placed third in heat two in 11.61.
The trio of Shericka Williams, Novlene Williams and Ronetta Smith eased into today's semi-finals of the women's 400m. Novlene Williams was the fastest of the Jamaicans clocking 51.51 for second behind Grenada's former St. Andrew High student Hazel Regis, who did a season-best 51.47. Shericka Williams was second in 52.18 behind Christine Amertil of Bahamas (51.85), while Ronetta Smith advanced as one of the fastest losers after placing fifth in her heat in 53.03 behind winner, Christine Ohuruogu of England, 51.97.
